Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 44113 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 176(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44113 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 221(@200wpm)___ 176(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
With Callie, my friends and I were basically there to help her cope.
Cole had been busy with some sort of business thing the day before, but when I’d arrived at Milton’s palace the night before, I’d walked into no less than ten dozen red roses waiting in my guest quarters. That and a little black box with a note attached to it.
This time, it’s not keys. I want to find this used when I see you tomorrow.
I’d shivered as I’d pulled open the little velvet box, and when I’d seen what was inside, a pulse of heat had trembled through me.
…A little, silver, vibrator, with a rose engraved on it.
“I want to find this used.”
I’d been wet instantly. I mean the man had sent me a sex toy, but then, something had changed in me since him. The old me might have been scandalized, or squeamish, or incensed. The new me though? Well, the new me just started to let her mind wander to all of the things we’d done. Holding that little toy, and feeling my skin start to tingle and my panties start to grow warmer, it was almost like he was right there with me, making my body react the way he always made did.
And needless to say, after a couple of drinks and some movies and pizza with my friends, I came back to my room and opened that little box again…
“Come along, dear, we’ll be late.”
I blinked out of my thoughts as my mother dragged me through the crowds, my father striding ahead of us.
“Where are we—”
“To give you a solid foundation for your future, Faith,” my father said with a thin smile, turning to raise a brow at me. “This is us making sure you’re on the right path for your station and for this family’s future.
“Okay, I actually have a lot to do right now. Can this wait?”
I mean, seriously. It was the day of one of my best friend’s wedding, and it being a sham wedding or not, I had things I had to do. Like make sure she was okay.
But then, I knew that wasn’t the whole truth. Yes, being there for my friend on this terrible day was something I needed to do, but there was another thing pulling my mind and tugging at my heart.
…Finding Cole. I knew some of his friends were already there — Duke Xavier, Lola’s guardian, had also arrived early the night before, and I knew I’d spotted King Hayden and King Sven, two other guys I knew Cole was friendly with at the wedding. Actually, earlier, we’d been teasing Riley about King Sven, since apparently, Lola had stumbled into the two of them quite close alone in the palace gardens together.
“Your future can not wait, no,” my father grumbled as we moved through the crowded ballroom towards one of the large outdoor terraces.
“And honestly, Faith,” my mother made a tut-tut sound. “Long sleeves? At an event like this? It’s a spring wedding, dear, not a convent.”
“Okay can you please just tell me what the hell we’re—”
“Language,” my father growled, turning again. He narrowed his eyes at me suspiciously, like he was trying to suss something out. “You’ve never been one to swear, Faith.”
“I have a lot going on right now, Dad, and a lot of responsibilities to Callie today—”
“So it’s not that you’ve been spending time with anyone unsavory.”
I swallowed, willing my face not to turn red. “I don’t even know what that’s supposed to mean,” I bristled.
“I’ve warned you once and I’ll warn you again,” my father muttered. “Cole McCabe is not anyone you should be concerning yourself with. Is that clear?”
“Dad, I’m not—”
“No, Faith, I will not hear it! I’m not a senile old man. I know he’s been spotted around our palace walls, and in our capital. And I know you had a large number of flowers sent to you the other day that you directed Mrs. Kenning in the mail room to bring directly to your quarters.”
A shiver tickled down my spine as the color drained from my face.
“I—”
“No,Faith,” my father shook his head. “I don’t want to hear it. Now, I’m going to assume that you’re smart enough not to fall for that man’s bullshit, but today, your mother and I are hedging our bets.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I muttered.
His eyes darted to my mother, who sighed heavily, before he brought them back to me and narrowed his gaze.
“It means in order to help you, we’ve gone out of our way to arrange this introduction for you.”
We stepped out onto a more private terrace off the ballroom to find a young man in a handsome suit standing by the balcony, smiling at us.
“Faith,” my father cleared his throat. “Allow me to introduce Prince Thomas Maneford, of Puname. He’s King Milton’s nephew, and he’s very interested in getting to know you.”